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Job outlook for online instructors in the United States
Online instructor job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected online instructor job growth rate is 2% from 2018-2028.
About 5,400 new jobs for online instructors are projected over the next decade.
Online instructor salaries have increased 6% for online instructors in the last 5 years.
There are over 10,786 online instructors currently employed in the United States.
There are 37,219 active online instructor job openings in the US.
The average online instructor salary is $45,114.
Are online instructor jobs in demand?
Online instructor job and salary trends over time
Online instructor jobs over time
Online instructor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,786 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 42,062 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 44,575 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 46,519 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 46,731 | 0.01% |
Average online instructor salary over time
Online instructor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $45,114 | $21.69 | +2.5% |
| 2025 | $44,012 | $21.16 | +0.3% |
| 2024 | $43,893 | $21.10 | +1.8% |
| 2023 | $43,109 | $20.73 | +1.7% |
| 2022 | $42,379 | $20.37 | +3.7% |
Online instructor jobs by state
Most common states for online instructors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 65 | 11% |
| 2 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 517 | 9% |
| 3 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 92 | 9% |
| 4 | Delaware | 961,939 | 83 | 9% |
| 5 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 704 | 8% |
| 6 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 399 | 8% |
| 7 | Alaska | 739,795 | 62 | 8% |
| 8 | Vermont | 623,657 | 48 | 8% |
| 9 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 751 | 7% |
| 10 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 691 | 7% |
| 11 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 305 | 7% |
| 12 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 69 | 7% |
| 13 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 50 | 7% |
| 14 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 496 | 6% |
| 15 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 188 | 6% |
| 16 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 77 | 6% |
| 17 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 52 | 6% |
| 18 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 454 | 5% |
| 19 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 343 | 5% |
| 20 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 317 | 5% |
Most common cities for online instructors
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Winter Park | 2 | 7% | $36,992 |
| 2 | Lynnwood | 1 | 3% | $44,471 |
| 3 | Manhattan Beach | 1 | 3% | $43,600 |
| 4 | McLean | 1 | 2% | $49,476 |
| 5 | Austin | 1 | 0% | $40,272 |
| 6 | Boston | 1 | 0% | $51,233 |
| 7 | Chicago | 1 | 0% | $51,418 |
| 8 | New York | 1 | 0% | $57,675 |
| 9 | Washington | 1 | 0% | $50,245 |
Online Instructor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of online instructor experts
Tiffin University
Northern Michigan University
College of the Marshall Islands
Washington University in St Louis
Saint Mary's University Of Minnesota
University of New Orleans
Mansfield University
SUNY Buffalo State
University of Texas at Austin
Wayne State University
University of North Florida
Sul Ross State University
Bowling Green State University
Belmont University
Graduate Theological Union
Concordia University
Hope College
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Connecticut College
Arizona State University
Dr. Stephanie Opfer
Associate Professor of English, Assistant Dean of the School of Creative and Media ArtsTiffin University
Visual And Performing Arts
What general advice would you give to an Online Instructor?
Dr. Stephanie Opfer: Because of the state of higher education in our country today, teaching in higher education can be a difficult field to break into. However, most colleges and universities still hire adjunct instructors (part-time instructors). Students shouldn't be afraid to teach as an adjunct for a while to get some experience and decide if teaching is for them.
What Online Instructor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Stephanie Opfer: Flexibility and adaptability will be the biggest skills instructors will need. The state of higher education is changing, and the 'ivory tower' is going away. Colleges and universities are starting to focus more on career-oriented programs, which include practical and application skill sets. In order to stay relevant, the focus of humanities classes like art and film should be on teaching students analysis, synthesis, and other critical-thinking skills. The content becomes less important and becomes only the vehicle for teaching these skills.
What will help Online Instructors increase their earning potential?
Dr. Stephanie Opfer: Unfortunately, teaching as an adjunct does not pay well. Students should keep their full-time jobs and teach part-time until they find a full-time job at a college or university. That part-time teaching provides them valuable experience and connections that make them more competitive candidates for full-time positions because they'd also be competing with candidates who have PhDs. So adjunct work is more of a long-term investment rather than an immediate return. Also, even full-time teaching jobs don't pay particularly well, so they'll really need to love teaching if they want to do it full-time. If they don't like teaching as an adjunct, they won't like doing it full-time.
What Online Instructor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Juan de la Puente Herrero: - I hate to even bring up the term, but you need to find a way to make yourself stand out among the masses who rely on A.I. to do their work. Re-learn how to string your words and ideas in a way that makes sense to you and your readers and that sounds natural. This could apply to cover letters and essays, but also simple emails, translations and in-class activities. Sadly, one of my main concerns in the workplace these days is the constant presence of artificial intelligence in everything we do. I can't predict the future, but I can definitely say that there is currently a race between professors, students and ChatGPT to see who can outsmart each other, and everyone is giving it their all. It sounds ironic, but the only way to stand out is to rely on the quality of your own work, have trustful sources, and good research skills.
What will help Online Instructors increase their earning potential?
Juan de la Puente Herrero: - This may not be a secret to anyone, but you need to reach out and talk to as many people as you have the energy for. I feel like people underestimate how competitive languages and linguistics can be in the professional world, so the more you know about how others 'went through it', the easier it will be for you to take the punches when they come. And they will come!
I also want to mention how I am younger compared to most of my colleagues (I'm 24), but I have noticed that there is a pattern among the professors who tend to be more popular inside and outside of the classroom: all of them have interests (not necessarily academic) that they pursue in their free time, and it does not matter what it is exactly; cooking, literature, acting, music... I think that it is extremely important to 'feel like a student' on a regular basis in order to let your students know that they are not the only ones making mistakes on a regular basis: you do, too. I don't think that this is an attitude that you can fake.
What general advice would you give to an Online Instructor?
Alexander Velasquez: My general advice to any graduate beginning their career in their field is to continue to learn and be a student of your craft. Be open to learning new things because you never know how they will improve your skills and qualifications. For example, I am currently learning video editing. I never thought I would bother to learn video editing, but it makes me a more versatile instructor being able to give students the option of doing video projects, combining and editing them, and having a digital record of what students have learned in the classroom. And given the rise of online learning, it's important nowadays to be an effective instructor both in the traditional in-person format and within the digital landscape.
What Online Instructor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Alexander Velasquez: I think that in the next three to five years the most important skills to have—and I mean this—will be critical thinking and imagination. This may sound a bit outlandish, and maybe even a bit naive, but hear me out: Artificial intelligence is making strides to the point where papers are writing themselves with simple instructions, videos are generating themselves with simple instructions, and software is beginning to write itself; and all this has been happening within the last few years. We may begin to see that in the next three to five years, once coveted programming jobs could become automated. Now, what I'm *not* saying is don't go to school for computer programming; but what I *am* saying is that the nature of work and employment *is* changing. For example, if you and and AI are making a video, and both of you have the same script, same voiceover, and so on, the only thing separating your final product from the AI's is the way you *think and imagine*, the perspective that you have as someone who can think critically about the information and lay it out in a visually appealing manner. AI can't do that—at least not yet—because it simply spits out the information it's given. But critical thought, metalevel thinking about information, is what will be one of the most important assets to have in the coming three to five years.
What will help Online Instructors increase their earning potential?
Alexander Velasquez: I think everyone should look into their career fields and find out what it is that makes you more valuable in that field. Are there any certifications that you can get? What is it that you need to know or learn that companies will find valuable? Much can be learned online, so pick up as many of those skills as you can, and make sure they're on your resume or CV. I believe all those things could maximize salary potential, especially when starting out.
Antonio Douthit-Boyd
Professor of Practice in DanceWashington University in St Louis
Dance
What will help Online Instructors increase their earning potential?
Antonio Douthit-Boyd: I have the opportunity to shape and mold dancers into critical thinkers, helping them understand their influence both in the classroom and in the field.
Carrie Wandler
Interim Director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, Associate ProfessorSaint Mary's University Of Minnesota
Online Learning Product Development
What skills stand out on Online Instructor resumes?
Carrie Wandler: Backward design for online environments, writing a syllabus for online learning, facilitating meaningful asynchronous interaction, creating instructor presence digitally, designing learning content for active learning, equity-based assessment practices, humanizing the Online Learning Environment, Classroom Management in Canvas, Online Learning Pedagogy.
What soft skills should all Online Instructors possess?
Carrie Wandler: Effective communication both in-person and across a wide variety of platforms (in the Learning Management System, via email, via social media, via Zoom); cultural fluency; creative and critical thinking; ethical decision-making; emotional intelligence; empathy.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Online Instructors?
Carrie Wandler: Proficiency within the Learning Management System, proficiency across the instructional technology tools that support learning within the Learning Management System (Panopto, Zoom, Ally, Flipgrid, etc.), proficiency in Google Suite, proficiency in Microsoft Suite.
What skills will help Online Instructors earn the most?
Carrie Wandler: All of the above, as well as embracing a spirit of innovation and bringing that innovative enthusiasm for what's possible into the classroom for a learner to experience so that they can model it in their own life and work.
Christine Day Ph.D.
Professor and ChairUniversity of New Orleans
Department of Political Science
What soft skills should all Online Instructors possess?
Christine Day Ph.D.: For anyone going on the job market with a Bachelor's degree (or higher) in political science, there are many opportunities in national, state, and local government; elective office; nonprofits and political advocacy; campaign management and polling; teaching; journalism; and business (because there is much overlap between politics/government and business, with business regulations, contracting out for public services, etc.). There are further opportunities for those who go on to graduate school or law school, as many political science majors do. Soft skills like communicating effectively both orally and in writing, researching and solving problems, and civic knowledge and engagement, are emphasized in political science, and they transfer well into a variety of careers.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Online Instructors?
Dr. Nicolle Mayo Ph.D.: Hard/ technical skills include the expertise to run statistical software for conducting research more effectively and efficiently. Using programs, as I mentioned above (SPSS, NVivo, etc.), suggests you are staying current with conducting research. Other computer programming skills unique to the field or to teaching are also helpful. Familiarity with things like Nearpod can make teaching more interactive and accessible to students. Navigating online learning platforms (including D2L, Blackboard) and utilizing them beyond their basic capacities guides students to perform better in the classroom. Knowledge and regular use of other spoken languages also enhance communication with students who have different language backgrounds. Spanish and Chinese are becoming much more prominent for both native and foreign exchange students.
Dr. Mark Fulk Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorSUNY Buffalo State
Department of English
What skills stand out on Online Instructor resumes?
Dr. Mark Fulk Ph.D.: Their involvement in many kinds of experience through the English major, including the study of literature/culture and their experiences as writers and thinkers. Through involvement in opportunities such as writing tutoring, which is done via the department, publishing, and internships, our majors can be leaders in the work in which they are invested, helping to manage and guide others.
What soft skills should all Online Instructors possess?
James Pennebaker: If you have basic social skills and can work with people from various backgrounds, you will be more likely to get hired, promoted, and build a stable social network at your job(s). Almost all companies and organizations value people who can write well and who can speak to their peers, management, and customers. It also helps to have a high level of energy and enthusiasm for your job. Virtually every employer I know is thrilled to find an employee who loves learning about the company and can troubleshoot problems without being asked.
What skills stand out on Online Instructor resumes?
Perry Farrell: In today's journalism, you will have to write, take pictures and do videos because that is now the nature of the business. The more of those things you can do, the more marketable you are.
What soft skills should all Online Instructors possess?
Perry Farrell: You have to be able to build relationships with people and do as much research as you can as far as writing, digital media, social media, and picture taking. Learning the business is essential to figuring out where your talents fit in.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Online Instructors?
Perry Farrell: Use a tape recorder, digital media presentations, a camera, phone video, knowing the English language and grammar.
What skills will help Online Instructors earn the most?
Perry Farrell: Doing as many skills as possible: print, TV, radio, in front of the camera, behind the camera, Print writing, and radio.
C. Dominik Güss
ProfessorUniversity of North Florida
Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences
What hard/technical skills are most important for Online Instructors?
C. Dominik Güss: - Presentation skills
- Organizational skills
- Ability to work with technology
- Ability to teach in different formats: face-to-face f2f, distant learning DL/online, hybrid- a mix of f2f and DL
Jessica Velasco DPA
Assistant Professor of Political Science & Public AdministrationSul Ross State University
Political Science & Public Administration
What hard/technical skills are most important for Online Instructors?
Jessica Velasco DPA: Most universities are offering both online and in-person classes, and this will continue even once the pandemic ends. Although we have lots of great resources for learning about how to enhance your online or hybrid teaching skills, it is ideal for those seeking positions to already have some familiarity with how to teach online or in a hybrid format.
Ellen Gorsevski Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorBowling Green State University
School of Media & Communication
What skills stand out on Online Instructor resumes?
Ellen Gorsevski Ph.D.: The colleagues who truly shine have plenty of scholarly academic publications to their name and grants successes, but they also need to have a rich variety of broader media publications (i.e., beyond the Ivory Tower) that have a wider reach to audiences laypersons. Also, ideally, they'd have some real-world experience from working in the ever-evolving area of multiplatform media today, including social media.
What soft skills should all Online Instructors possess?
Ellen Gorsevski Ph.D.: Many key skills include emotional intelligence, co-cultural and intercultural communication competencies, and interest in pressing for more research, teaching, and service in areas that address historical inequities among BIPOC individuals and communities. Carrying the torch forward of legendary reporters like David Halberstam (and described in his book, The Children) to contemporary advocates of foregrounding ethics of inclusion include luminaries today such as Nikole Hannah-Jones. This sensibility to uphold the democratic principles of the Fourth Estate's responsibility is critically needed now more than ever.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Online Instructors?
Ellen Gorsevski Ph.D.: Current skills include facility and aptitude for digital media, social media, real-time reportage, and agility in multifaceted platforms.
What skills will help Online Instructors earn the most?
Ellen Gorsevski Ph.D.: Typically branding, marketing, doing high profile speaking engagements such as at major conferences, writing books, and getting exposure and marketability across multiple media channels.
Chase Neely
Adjunct Professor, Co-Founder and President of Leverage Creative GroupBelmont University
School of Law
What skills stand out on Online Instructor resumes?
Chase Neely: The most important skills start with the resume itself. Is the instructor a good writer? At our company, we post many writing jobs, and you'd be surprised how often the resumes sent in have typographical errors and spelling mistakes in them.
What soft skills should all Online Instructors possess?
Chase Neely: As an instructor, you must be able to relate to the student. Express genuine care for what they're experiencing and for how they learn. That genuine care will also help you relate to the professors in your academic area.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Online Instructors?
Chase Neely: Attention to detail and time management is crucial to being a successful professor.
What skills will help Online Instructors earn the most?
Chase Neely: Advancement at a university is based on your ability to connect with your students, teach them well, and become a valuable member of the academic community. You must write about the craft that you're teaching. You have to participate in surveys like this one - not for your own notoriety, but out of genuine care for the discipline. And maybe I'm a bit naive, but you have to want to help. Adam Grant explains that the world is no longer made for those who take from others in his work on the topic. The world needs people who give - generously and without expectation of return. It's those people who advance further and earn more, especially when they make their desires for advancement known.
Sangyil Sam Park Ph.D.
Professor of PreachingGraduate Theological Union
Berkeley school of theology (bst)
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Online Instructor job market given the pandemic?
Sangyil Sam Park Ph.D.: I think that this pandemic situation will reset the job market in such a way that we have never expected-new jobs will be created and some of the traditional jobs will either be slashed or adjusted to meet the need of the new reality we have experienced for the past 12 months.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Online Instructor job market given the pandemic?
John Norton Ph.D.: A need to communicate clearly and creatively through different medium
Dr. Rachel Schutte
Assistant ProfessorHope College
Department of Political Science
What soft skills should all Online Instructors possess?
Dr. Rachel Schutte: As with virtually all careers, graduates should be effective communicators in both written and oral presentation. There is a striking level of numerical illiteracy among the mass public and political elites alike; this creates a particularly high need for political science graduates to learn how to communicate the results of social scientific studies to lay people and politicians in clear, understandable terms without falling into the black-and-white (either-or style) partisan dichotomy. Graduates should hone their skills to present findings in a concise, yet persuasive and nuanced, manner.
While not a "soft skill," I would encourage political science students and graduates to seek opportunities to develop skills in data analytics. We are a world where everything - texts, speeches, emails, and the like - are prone to become big data. Understanding how to mine that data, how to use it, how to interpret relationships among variables in the data, and how to think critically about causality are invaluable skills to possess.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Online Instructors?
Thomas Barth: The workplace is likely not going to be the same again after what has been learned about the benefits of meeting and working remotely. There will likely be more opportunities to work remotely for organizations anywhere in the world. However, you will need to work even harder and be creative about building and maintaining relationships in this environment.
What's a day at work look like for an Online Instructor?
Thomas Barth: Consistent with the answer above, be prepared for a Zoom world, and if you do work in-person, be more respectful than ever of peoples' space. The elbow tap may become the new handshake!
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Online Instructor job market given the pandemic?
Simon Feldman: My sense is that the pandemic will make it even more important to have a breadth of skills--from listening skills and critical reading and writing skills, to mastery of communication using social media and videoconferencing tools.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Online Instructor job market given the pandemic?
Jessica Early Ph.D.: In the coming years, there will be more need than ever for well-trained teachers in all levels and aspects of schools. There will also be a need to support partnerships with community organizations, family outreach, libraries, and extra-curricular kinds of support to support the academic and social emotion needs of children and their families. There will also be great need for highly skilled teachers in supporting students in digital forms of literacy, writing, and reading practices.